31 for 21 Blog Challenge

So this morning, I decided to post about the 31 for 21 blog challenge for the month of October but I got side-tracked...that can happen a lot to me.  This was different.

At preschool drop-off this morning, I found out about a blood drive that is happening Monday in honor of one of the teacher's grandson's who was born with a fraction of his total blood volume.  His blood had been leaking into his mom's placenta and no one was aware of it.  The little boy is still fighting and is close to coming home, but right now, no one knows of his prognosis.  The blood drive was coordinated out of gratitude to all the people who donated and saved this baby's life.  To give back....to help others.

When I came home, I was looking at a local news website and came across an article that moved me.  A local news anchor is donating a kidney to a local woman who is living with only 11% of her kidney function.  I watched the footage and sobbed.  How fabulous that someone will offer to be a living donor to help save someone's life!  There will be a series of news stories about organ and tissue donations as both of them recover from their surgeries.

The point of me telling you about both stories is that...one person really can make a difference.  The world is full of "one persons" that are trying to make a difference...to make the world a better place.

So, in light of that.  Let me tell you about 31 for 21.  Tricia from  Unringing the Bell is hosting the 5th annual 31 for 21 Blog Challenge for Down Syndrome Awareness month.  October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  Medically, Down syndrome is called Trisomy 21 (T21)....it is a 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome.  The challenge is to blog every day in October...all 31 days.  Therefore, 31 for 21.

Every day won't necessarily be about Down syndrome.  Some of it will be our normal, boring life!  I don't expect to change the world with my blog but I am trying to spread the word that Down syndrome isn't that bad....life can be and is normal. We are so blessed with our blue-eyed little girl!  My goal with my blog is to help ease the mind of one person who has received the diagnosis either at birth or prenatally.  Blogs helped me after my daughter was born...I hope to do the same!

Here are a few pictures of my beautiful little girl....

Sophie has become a mainstay in our house...with the amount of slobber running down her, we can only assume she feels good on those swollen gums.  As you can tell by Hailey's double chin and full cheeks...she likes her food and she doesn't miss a meal :-)  Her prefers helping and likes to keep an extra spoon close by.  I can't seem to get enough of those dimples!